310 On the Origin and Natural History 



is said to have fifteen pair of ribs. It inhabits a great extent 

 of territory throughout the temperate and northern parts of 

 North America, and its history will be found pretty fully de- 

 tailed in the works of Warden, and other recent writers. 



4. — The Buffalo. 

 (Bos bubalus, Linn. Le Baffle, Buffo n. Arackosian Ox of Aristotle.,} 

 The forehead of the buffalo is convex or bulging, longer 

 than broad, the direction of the horns is lateral, and they are 

 marked in front by a longitudinal projecting ridge. This ani- 

 mal is a native of India, from whence it was brought into 

 Egypt and Greece. It was introduced into Italy about the 

 close of the sixth century ; and numerous herds now graze 

 among the Pontian Marshes. Its milk is excellent, its hide 

 is very strong, its flesh but slightly esteemed. 



5. — The Gayal. 



(Bos Ga»us, Major Smith, in Griffith's Animal Kingdom. Bos frontalis, 

 Lambert, Linn. Trans.) 



Nearly of the size and shape of an English bull, with a dull 

 heavy appearance, but in reality almost equal in strength and 

 activity to the wild buffalo. Horns short, distant at their 

 bases, and rising in a gentle curve directly outwards and up- 

 wards. From the upper angles of the forehead proceed two 

 thick, short, horizontal processes of bone, covered by a tuft of 

 light-coloured hair. On these are placed the horns, which are 

 very thick at the base, and slightly compressed, the flattened 

 sides being towards the head and tail. The dewlap is covered 

 with strong longish hair, so as to join a kind of mane on the 

 lower part of the neck ; but this is not very conspicuous, when 

 the animal is young. In place of a hump, the gayal has a 

 sharp ridge, which runs along the hinder part of the neck, 

 shoulders, and anterior portion of the back. Inhabits the 

 mountain forests to the east of Burrampootra, Silhet, and 

 Chatgoon. The milk is very rich, though neither abundant 

 nor lasting. The gayal is venerated by the Hindoos. It is 

 domesticated in India. The female has been known to pro- 

 duce with a common Zebu bull of the Deswali breed. 



6.— The Yack. 



(Bos granniens, Pallas. Grunting Ox of Shaw aod Pennant. Soora Goy 

 of the Hindostanese. Bos Povphagas, Hamilton Smith.) 



Occiput convex, and covered with frizzled hair; horns round, 



smooth, pointed, lateral, bending forwards and upwards; 



withers very high, but not so decidedly hunched as in the 



zebus, mammas four, placed transversely; ribs fourteen pair; 



hair on the neck and back, very woolly, whitish and black ; 



tail with very long hair. Sometimes hornless. This species 



(the Poephagus of iElian) inhabits the mountains of Central 



Asia. The horse-tails, as they are commonly called, used as 



standards by the Persians and Turk, are, in fact, made of hair 



